Orbiting massage machine



Feb. 16, 1965 E. MccAw 3,169,521

ORBITING MASSAGE MACHINE Filed Sept. 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. EARL Mc CAW BY A.; TORNE' Y Feb. 16, 1965 E. MCcAw ORBITING MASSAGE MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EARL Mc CAW ATTORNEY Filed Sept. 20, 1962 United States Patent O Earl The invention, in general, relates to the art of body massage and more particularly relates to a light-weight, portable power driven applicator that can readily be selfmanipulated or self-used to treat the body for promoting circulation and for' enhancing suppleness of the body and its components.

Heretofore there has been but little attention devoted to the provision of a machine for increasing body suppleness by massage which could be manufactured inexpensively and sold within a non-prohibitive price range, and which could be employed by the individual to his own body without the help of others. In theV main, most persons suffering from poor circulationV with attendant aches and pains, or suering Kfrom stiifness lof joints, recurring cramps in the limbs and hands with soreness, have repeatedly or constantly employed professional masseurs to treat the body by rubbing or kneading the muscles about the stii joints or cramped areas. The present invention is directed to the provision of a relatively inexpensive mas-V saging machine that can be handled and manipulated as easily by the unskilled as the skilled for application to the body for desired periods of time to treat the same for pain, -aches and the like as well as for nervous tension and tired feeling.

A primary object of my invention is to provide -an orbiting massage machine which is capable of being applied by an indivdual to various portions or areas of his own body in nearly all cases of treatment.

Another important object 'of the present invention is to provide an improved orbiting massage machine of the indicated nature which is additionally characterized by its relatively simple construction, by its lightness in weight and by its low cost of use and maintenance.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an orbiting massage machine of the -aforementioned character which is capable of being readily transported, which is power driven and can be plugged into any outlet from a source of standard 11G-120 volt alternating current, and which can be employed by any adult person without assistance, in nearly all cases of body application, from professionals or other persons.

Other objects of the invention, together with some of the advantageous features thereof, will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that I am not to be limited tothe precise embodiment shown, nor to the precise arrangement of the component parts thereof, as my invention, as deiined in the appended claims, can be embodiedin a plurality and variety of forms.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevational View of apreferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG.l IA is an enlarged fragmentary detail of a speed regulation switch for the motor of the machine where a variable speed motor is incorporated therein, such regulator switch being adapted to the inner end of one of the handles.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary reduced perspective view of the preferred embodiment of my invention applied to the upper back of .a person, and one of the few instances where the help 'of- -another is required. l

FIG. 3 is another reduced perspective view of the machine, this view illustrating the application thereof by the individual to the lower back of her body.

FIG. 4 is still another reduced perspective view showing the machine being applied by the individual to the back of her neck.

FIG. 5 is a reduced perspective view of the preferred embodiment of my invention in an inverted position, this view showing use of the machine at the lower back of au individual in partially reclined position. Y

FIG. 6 is still another reduced perspective'view of the machine as applied by an individual to her right shoulder.

FIG. 7 is another reduced perspective view of the machine, in inverted position and illustrating the treatment of the feet by an individual without the aid of another.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the machine being applied by -an individual to her knees.

FIG. 9 is another reduced perspective view of the machine in inverted position seated on a planar surface, this view illustrating how an individual can treat the calf of her leg without assistance from others.

FIG. l0 is a reduced perspective view of a preferre embodiment of the invention illustrating the application thereof by an individual to her hip.

FIG. 1l is a view similar to FIG. 10 but showing application of the machine to the stomach for treatment of the stomach muscles.

FIG. 12 is a further reduced perspective view of the machine, in an inverted position and illustrating how a person using both hands can apply the machine for treating excess fat under her chin.

In its preferred form, the orbiting massage machine of the present invention preferably comprises a rotatably mounted shaft, means for rotating said shaft, together with a member eccentrically mounted on said shaft for vibratory -motion on rotation of said shaft and a yieldable pad having a concave outer surface secured to said member for orbital, vibratory motion with said member upon rotation of said shaft.

While I have depicted in the annexed drawings a variety of different uses of my improved orbiting massage machine for the treatment of lthe body and thereby stimulate blood circulation and enhance body suppleness so as to inhibit pain and aches in stilf muscles and joints as well asrto render assistance toward the relief of body tiredness and nervous tension, it is to be understood that I -am not to be limited in the utilization of my improved massage machine to those illustrated. For, it is quite within the purview of beneficial uses, in addition to the tendency to diminish lfatty tissues and muscles about the stomach and hips or under the chin, as shown, as well as in other por tions or areas of the body, and to treat the metatarsal bone under the guidance of an orthopedist, and like joints or bony regions of the body such as shoulder bones, or the several cervicals all under orthopedist guidance, also to effect treatment 'of certain regions of the head and forehead to lessen headaches and relieve `anxiety concerning vision and hearing.

As particularly illustrated in FIG. l of the annexed drawingsfl provide a housing 11 which preferably is fabricated of a light-weight metal, such as aluminum, and which defines a relatively large interior compartment 12 for confining an electric motor 13 including an armature 14 and windings 16. Any suitable mounting means for the motor 13 can be employed, such as spring-loaded rods 17 and 18 extending through metal laminations for the windings 16 onV opposite sides of the motor armature 14, together with coil springs 19 and 26, respectively, encircling the rods 17 and I8 and confined between the housing Il and a pair of nuts 21 and 22 threaded on the rods 17 and IS, respectively, and engaging the metal laminations for the windings, as shown. The outer ends of the rods i7 and 18 may extend into recesses 23 and 24 formed in a cap 26 for the housing and are threaded to receive the binding nuts 27and 2S, respectively, which are counter-sunk Patented Feb. I6, 1%5

rotated by said motor upon rotation thereof; said shaft extension projecting beyond one side of said housing, a member eccentrically mounted on said shaft extension for vibratory movement upon rotation of said shaft and said shaft extension, an elongated yieldable pad having a concave exterior surface connected to said member for vibratory movement therewith and for engaging curved areas of the human body while undergoing vibratory movement to stimulate circulation and suppleness of the body, and at least three hand grips on the other side of said housing for enabling a person to apply said pad while undergoing vibratory movement to selected areas of the body; sm'd plurality of hand grips serving the dual function of supporting said housing on a planar surface in an inverted position.

2, An orbiting massage machine comprising a rotatably mounted prime mover, means for rotating said prime mover, a shaft with a shaft extension connected to and adapted to be rotated by said prime mover, a member eccentrically mounted on said shaft extension for vibratory movement upon rotation of said shaft extension, an elongated yieldable pad detachably secured to said member for movement in unison with said member; said yieldable pad having a concave exterior surface for engaging and conforming to curved areas of the human body to which said pad is applied while undergoing vibratory movement whereby circulation may be stimulated and body suppleness may be increased, and at least three hand grips arranged in spaced relationship about said prime mover for enabling a person to apply and to hold said yieldable pad against selected areas of his own or anothers body as well as to seat the motor on a planar surface with said yieldable pad presented above the planar surface for resting a limb thereon.

3. An orbiting massage machine comprising a housing, a motor rotatably mounted within said housing, means for rotating said motor, a shaft with a shaft extension connected to and rotated by said motor; said shaft extension projecting beyond said housing, a member eccentrically mounted on the projecting portion of said shaft extension for vibratory movement upon rotation of said shaft extension, an elongated yieldable pad on said member for vibratory movement in unison therewith; said yieldable pad having a concave exterior surface for engaging and conforming to curved areas of the human body to which said pad is applied while undergoing vibratory movement whereby body muscles may be toned and body suppleness may be increased, and at least three hand grips on and radially extending from said housing to enable a person to apply said pad while undergoing vibratory movement to selected areas of his own or anothers body as well as to enable said housing to be supported ou a planar surface with said pad above said surface.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 749,690 Jacobsen Ian. 12, 1904 2,431,979 Amer Dec. 2, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,191,440 France Apr. 13, 1959 

1. AN ORBITING MASSAGE MACHINE COMPRISING A HOUSING, A MOTOR ROTATABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING, A SHAFT WITH A SHAFT EXTENSION CONNECTED TO AND ADAPTED TO BE ROTATED BY SAID MOTOR UPON ROTATION THEREOF; SAID SHAFT EXTENSION PROJECTING BEYOND ONE SIDE OF SAID HOUSING, A MEMBER ECCENTRICALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT EXTENSION FOR VIBRATORY MOVEMENT UPON ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT AND SAID SHAFT EXTENSION, AN ELONGATED YIELDABLE PAD HAVING A CONCAVE EXTERIOR SURFACE CONNECTED TO SAID MEMBER FOR VIBRATORY MOVEMENT THEREWITH AND FOR ENGAGING CURVED AREAS OF THE HUMAN BODY WHILE UNDERGOING VIBRATORY MOVEMENT TO STIMULATE CIRCULATION AND SUPPLENESS OF THE BODY, AND AT LEAST THREE HAND GRIPS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID HOUSING FOR ENABLING A PERSON TO APPLY SAID PAD WHILE UNDERGOING VIBRATORY MOVEMENT TO SELECTED AREAS OF THE BODY; SAID PLURALITY OF HAND GRIPS SERVING THE DUAL FUNCTION OF SUPPORTING SAID HOUSING ON A PLANAR SURFACE IN AN INVERTED POSITION. 